Signal device for elevator clamps



y 7, 1954 A. J. LUCAS SIGNAL DEVICE FOR ELEVATOR CLAMPS Filed June 15, 1953 INVENTOR.

Patented July 27, 1954 SIGNAL DEVICE FOR ELEVATOR CLAMPS Andrew J. Lucas, Springfield, Mass., assignor to Safety Devices, Inc., West-Springfield, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application June 15, 1953, Serial No. 361,790

1 Claim. (Cl. 340-19) This invention relates to improvements in elevator apparatus and is directed more particularly to signal devices for elevator clamps of elevators.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of signal apparatus for indicating the failure of means securing a hoisting cable and elevator.

In connection with elevators, a device known as a socket is provided on the end of the hoisting cable or cables below the upper part or crosshead of the elevator car. The entire weight of the car is carried by this socket. The connection between the end of the cable and socket often fails, the cable at the socket frequently crystallizes and due to various causes the socket and cable are prone to part so that the elevator is released and falls in the shaft.

According to U. S. Letters Patents #2,518,699 and #2518500 issued to me on August 15, 1950, a safety device is provided which includes a body or casing secured to the elevator car having an opening therethrough which is provided with upwardly converging sides and a tapering wedge is secured to the elevator cable. The wedge is secured to the cable in such a way that it is out of contact with the opening of the body. When the connection between the socket and cable is broken or the cable at the socket ruptures so that the cable moves upwardly a short distance, the

wedge member seats in the opening of the body and the car is supported by the coacting body and wedge so that it does not drop in the elevator shaft.

According to this invention, signal apparatus is provided which is constructed and arranged to indicate that the safety device has come into play due to failure of the socket so that it may be rebabbitted onto the cable or other repairs made.

All of the above objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangements of parts thereof, as will fully appear by a perusal of the description below and by various specific features which will be hereinafter set forth.

To the above cited and other ends and with the foregoing and various other novel features and advantages and other objects of my invention as will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claims hereunto annexed and more fully described and referred to in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a body and cable wedge having the signal device of the invention associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the signal device shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram to explain operation of the signal device.

Referring now to the drawings more in detail, the invention will be fully described.

A casing or body 2 and a wedge 4 are shown which are similar to the body and wedge of the aforesaid U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,518,699 of August 15, 1950.

The body is provided with an elongated opening 8 having upwardly converging sides and said body is adapted for securement by rods to the upper part or crosshead of an elevator car as indicated in said patent.

An elevator cable is represented by it) and will extend through the opening in the body and through the upper part or crosshead of an elevator car and will have a socket secured thereto also as indicated in said patent.

The wedge 4 is secured to the cable in such a way that it is normally out of contact with the opening of the body. When, however, there is a failure of the socket so that the car is released by the cable the car will drop slightly so that the wedge will become wedged in the body opening and the car will be supported by the wedge and body which is secured to the car.

It is desired to provide a signal or indicating means so that the socket failure is known for repairs or whatever is necessary.

For this purpose a bracket i2 is provided which has side portions i 4 at outer sides of the body. The side portions 14 have openings l6 for a bolt 58 of the body and is held in place by the head l8 and nut 20 of said bolt.

A casing 22 rests on the bracket and ears 24 of the bracket overlie end walls 26 of the said casing and screws 28 secure the casing to the bracket.

A signal which, according to the form of invention being disclosed, consists of a well known buzzer 39 is disposed in the casing. A switch device 32 is secured to an inner wall 25 of the easing and has a swingable arm 34 extending in-- wardly therefrom.

The switch may be in the form of the well known toggle switch. The arm is shown in circuit open position and as said arm is swung upwardly, the switch is set in circuit closing position.

A switch actuator is provided for engaging and actuating the switch arm. This is arranged to actuate the switch as the wedge and cable move upwardly or the body moves downwardly as on failure of the socket when the wedge engages the opening of the body.

In the form of the invention shown, the actuator 36 is in the form of half discs d0 having hub parts 42 for embracing the cable l0. A clamp bolt 16' extends through ears 44 of the hub parts 42.

The actuator is adjusted on the movable member so that the switch 32 will be actuated for closing a circuit as the wedge comes into play and is wedged in the body opening.

It may be desirable to out 01f a light or lights in the elevator cab when the wedge engages the body opening on failure of the socket or rupture of the cable thereat.

For this purpose switch 32 as shown in Fig. 3 is of the double pole single throw type.

A car light is represented by 50 which is connected by 52 to a source of energy 55 to a switch contact 56 by 58. The source of energy 5 3 may be a 115 volt A. C. line, one side of which is connected by 60 to the buzzer 38.

The other side of line 54 is connected by 62 to switch arm 54. The buzzer 3G is connected by 66 to contact 58 of the switch and arm in of the switch 32 is connected by '12 to the source of energy.

On relative longitudinal movement of the secured together wedge and cable and the body the switch is actuated so that the signal buzzer is energized and the cab light is de-energized but in some cases it may be desired to omit the cab light.

The actuator whether carried by the cable or wedge is arranged for adjustment for actuating the switch as the wedge becomes wedged in the body due to failure of the connection between the cable and elevator car.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. Hence, the present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects merely as being illustrative and not as being restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all modifications and variations as fall Within the meaning and purview and range of equivalency of the appended claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What it is desired to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

Signal apparatus for a safety device including a body having a tapered bore and a cable passing through the bore carrying a tapered plug engageable in the bore as the body and plug move towards one another comprising, an electric signal and a switch provided with a movable operating member, an actuator carried by said cable normally out of contact with the operating member of the switch, a source of energy, and connections between said source of energy, signal and switch, all adapted and arranged whereby as the body and wedge move towards one another said actuator engages the operating member of the switch for bringing about energizing of said signal.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,518,699 Lucas Aug. 15, 1950 2,518,700 Lucas Aug. 15, 1950 2,644,546 Dolan July 1, 1953 

